The Auckland-Wellington Match.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 64, 21 September 1901, Page 20

The Auckland-Wellington Match.

AUCKLAND have won'" The repetition of this sentence after the annual match between the repiesentative football teams of Wellington and Auckland is becoming year by year more wearying to those of us who follow the fortunes of the Wellington fifteen. * * * If one ventuied to predict in 1897 when Auckland won, in the last quarter of an hour, by the individual efforts of George Smith in scoring two tries, that that match was destined to be the hist in a series of five consecutive wins, ho would have been considered as fairly safe to put under lock and ke.> , for a while at any rate. Football prophets generally fly wide of the mark, as witness "Touch's" prediction as to the ultimate, result of the match now under review — that Wellington would win "ecy." The prediction in this instance was nearly as correct as the word used to describe the nature of the win. To return to my tale, no one ventured to prophesy as the previous paragraph indicated, but the historian has it on record that for five years in succession Wel'ington have been defeated by Auckland, meeting their Wateiloo three times on their own ground. In 1897, those of us who weie senbes stated that Wellington had suffered its first defeat for twenty years on their own ground by an interprovincial team Alas! and alas' that one defeat lias increased to three as far as matches with Auckland are concerned. * » » The match on Saturday was played under favourable auspices, excepting in so far as a brisk northerly wind was b'owing straight up and down the field. Theio was a splendid attendance of some six thousand people, all more or less keenly interested in the result, and the turf was in great order — there be-

ing just enough spring in it to mako the going pleasant for the playeis. The Wellington captain non the toss, and, natuially, elected to play with the wind behind him. The general opinion \aned as to the number of points the local playeis would be able to score in the first spell, and then, when ends were changed, whether Auckland would be able to catch them Again the prophets were at sea, and the one who tells the talc aftei wards has the laugh * # * The. visiting forwards showed an unmistakable keeness m their work, and, getting possession in the scrummages, their lock screwed effectively, and up the field they went m good style. The "barrackers" felt serious, as, with their forwaids beaten, the local team hadn't a hope of stopping the galloping three-quarters from the Northern city. The fhst score of the match allowed them to get nd of some of their fee'ings m a wild and prolonged "hoot." A mark by Smith was taken by Cunningham—who, bv the way, spoilt a bit of tho paddock every time he had a placekick ' The shot was a good one, but short and the return was spoilt. Almost immediately afterwards, Cunningham had another place-kick at goal from a free-kick. Again the forwards lined right across the field, and when the kick went a, bit wide to the right Slatterv grounded the leather over the line, but no sooner had he done so than Rod McGregor, coming up at top, bundled him off it, and fell on -it himself The yell that followed the wiving of the try could be heard almost across the Straits, so pronounced was it. This score seemed to show the We lhngton players the gravity of the situation. Directly they would have to play in the teeth of the northerly, and, unless they scored something this turn, there was no saying how many noints the\ would ber beaten by Howe\er, a store did come but onl> one' — Slattery forcing his way over his opponents' line with a very powerful run. * ♦ • ftnds were changed, and then the play, which had been full of incidents in the opening spell, became for the space of twenty minutes very monotonous Now and again there would be a splash —-a forward rush or a passing run — but generally nothing exciting happened. Their efforts in the first haJf seemed to have taken it all out of the visiting foiwards, and the Wellington scrummers,

on the reverse, were playing with much better combination. Half an hour had gone, and the scores weie still even, and then history repeated itself. In 1897, Braund, who Mas then captaining the Auckland team, was temporal lly disabled fifteen minutes from time, and an apparently drawn game wa& won by the visiting team scoring two tries by the agency of Smith. On this occasion Rod McGregor was the Auckland player rendered hors do combat, with only a quarter of an hour to play, and Buckland was the player to score the two tries. The first one was the result of a fine dash by that player at the end of a passing run on his own wing, the ball having been neatly sent him. by Kiernan. For the second try Buckland galloped right acioss 1 the field apparently on a wildgoose chase, but when he got across the ball had reached Asher, who had no earthly chance of "crossing." Buckland was there in time to receive the pa,ss, and, seeing the way none too clear, a short punt and follow-up saw him, to the surprise of the majority of those opposite Mm, eventually lying on the bail over the chalk-line, and with the match undoubtedly won for his side. • • • That is how the scores were obtained, but space will not permit me to describe any more incidents of the game Suffice it to say, it was a fine contest, but with not so much brilliancy in it as I expected to see. The proverbial illfeeling between Wellington and Auckland on the football arena is dying out, and the match on Saturday was played in the friendliest of spirits, and devoid of anything approaching rough play. So it should be when fifteen of the chosen of any of our piovinces meet together to engage in friendly rivalry in the best of all games— that of Rugby footbaJl. * * ♦ Mr. A. Restieaux had travelled all the way from Dunedin to control the game, but his decisions did not give unmixed satisfaction. In the matter of Auckland's first try, he undoubtedly made a mistake, and a little later he defined a knock-on somewhat arbitrarily, when Bakewell crossed the line after gathering the ball in splendidly with one hand going at top speed. Then, ag*fn, the Wellington supporters reckoned Dodd crossed as the result of a fine dash between Kelly, McAnally, and he, but the referee ruled he fell short.

However, a referee's billet is ever a thankless one, and Mr. Restieaux, though he made mistakes, did not make them intentionally, and did his level best to rule fairly between the contesting teams. # * • Sutherland gave as fine an exhibition at full-back as has been seen on the Athletic Park for many a day. His taking of the ball was clean and neat, and his kicking was serviceable and true, finding the touch-line when occasion demanded. Smith, in the centre three-quarter, had had enough after his, first tackle by Wng.ey, which was a good, though heavy, one. His play lacked a lot of dash, and gave one the impression that he was reserving himself for the other branch of sport in which he excels. Asher, on the right wing, was full of running, although at times he ran a long way before making headway. His attack was good, but YVallace easily beat him at times. Buckiand's reputation handicapped him a bit in the estimation of the public, and it appeared tor the greater portion of the game that, zo use a sporting term, he was carrying too much weight thereby. His two tries, however, amply demonstrated that he has all the essentials that go to make a scoring three-quarter. Dick McGregor was slow when compared with the line behind him, but his work was solid, and of good service to his team. A glaring piece of obstruction on his part when Wallace was in a good position to receive a pass that had every possibility of resulting in a score escaped the notice of the referee. Kiernan's display at half-back was of a finished, though not faultless nature, his passing being neat and well delivered. In running with the ball, however, he crowded his five-eighth, and did not go straight enough to make the attack as effective as it should have been. S. McGregor and Doran, on the wing fOlf 01 ward, were never much in evidence, although they managed to get round on to the opposing half many a time. Cunningham fully emphasised the fact that he secured his place in the New Zealand team because of his abilities to fill the position of the "lock" of the scrum. He kept his "hookers" splendidly in position, and when a "screw" was wanted he gathered the ball in in good style with his knees, and

whichever Mde he went he took the lot with him with the result generally that an effective rush eventuated. Tyler and Brady had much the better of the deal with their opponents in the front, especially in the first spell. Tyler was \ery prominent in the open. Rod McGregor, Nicholson, Smith, and Bakewell were the remainder of a pack that surprised its best friends by the game it played, which proved conclusively that every one of them must ha\ e done his full share of the hard toil. Dodd stood out prominently as the best forward on his side — if not on the ground — and, like Cunningham, proved that the New Zealand selectors made no error when they put him in their team His following up, especially, was brilliant. In the front of the scrummage Wyhe and Dodd weie generally beaten by their \is-a-vis, though, in fairness to them, it must be said that they were not getting the weight behind them that they should have Wvhe was prominent in the open, and altogether played one of his best games of the season Skilton buffered m comparison with Cunningham in the lock, and failed to rise to the standard the game demanded of him. O'Brien was in good heart, and infused a lot of work and dash into his play, but Adams was seldom seen. McAnally played the forward game in two different styles In the first spell he did not do nearly his share of the work, but in the second played right up to liis best traditions, standing out very conspicuously Manson was out of his e'ement. and could not settle down to push in the scrummage, and Kelly, though at times doing serviceable work, was severely handicapped with not having properly recovered from a sprained ankle. Gage passed out better than against Taranaki, but there generally seemed to be something wanting in his play. The old tricks were all there, some smart marks were taken, but a forward rush was oftener than necessity demanded left alone. Wallace's w ork was very sen iceable and sound, the way in which he beat Asher on occasions being very pretty to watch. Wood was not so piominent as usual, Ins new position appearing to nonplus him at times, but his defence work was sound. Wngley's tackling was very deadly, and his fearlessness in getting in front of the dashing Auckland forwards was much admired. Slattery and Row did well, the former sconng the only try for his side in a meritorious manner. Since Slattery secured his place in the representative team his play has shown much improvement, and lie in this match displayed form much above what was shown by him in championship matches. Spencer's work is described correctly as of the slow and sure variety. His kicks were all well placed. • • *■ Now, I have desenbed the play, and the players, are there any reasons why Wellington did not win ? As stated in these columns last week, I have only to repeat now that the match is over, that the Selection Committee committed a grave error in dropping the wing forwards, and placing Manson in the pack after having done so. Why, he even admits himself that the whole of the first spell he could not fit with. McAnally in the back row. This being so, it cannot be wondered that the Auckland pack shoved their opponents about, when the latter were not getting the weight from the quarter they should have. In justice to Manson, let me say he is not to blame. The Selection Committee asked him to play a game he know nothing about, hence, if he failed, it is not his fault— rather his misfoitune. Then, again, the extra h\ (--eighth seemed to upset Wood a lot, for he did not infuse as much dash into his pla\ as lie would have if he was the fust man to receive the ball from the halt. Howevoi, the game is over and done with, and the win for Auckland cannot be recalled. But my opinion is — and to me it is convincing — that if any experiments aic to be made with our u>presentativc teams Ihey should be given a trial m the earlier games of the season, and not in the matches where oui pla\eis are asked a stiff contract in anv case. * + * The recoid ot matches played between Wellington and Auckland is — Matches plaved, 13. six wins each, and one game drawn Wellington points, <>9 Auckland, 83 To show the diffeience Auckland's succession of wins has made in the tally, the position in 1896 was as follows ' — Matches played 8 Wellington wins, (5 Auckland wins, 1 one drawn game Wellington points -T> Auckland points, K>.

The record of matches played bv the Southern Football Club's first fifteen (whose photogiaph is reproduced on the opposite page) this season is decidedly mteiesting — Matches played 8, won 8, points scored for 71, points scoied against nil. Great doubt exists as to what His Excellency the Governor has donated his tiophy for. To dispel them, let me say that it is to be competed for annually by the champion provincial team in each island. Thus, if the competition were held this year, Auckland and Canterbury would have to play for its possession. The annual smoke concert of the Oriental Club on Monday night was an enjoyable function, ably presided over by Mr Alec. Hill, the club's president. A full toast list, some lattling speeches, sandw iched in with songs and recitations, caused the evening to pass very pleasantly, and I have to thank the Committee of the Club for their kmdncss in inviting me to their gathering. The news of W. Shortland's death, as cabled from Sydney on Tuesday, caused a feeling of intense gloom to pervade the football world of Wellington. As vice-captam of the New South Wales team, which has just concluded a tour of Neiv Zealand, he had made himself extremely respected by his unassuming manners when off the field, and popular on the field by his undoubted prowess as a player My sincerest sympathies are extended to his fellow-players and relatives on account of the great loss they have sustained. A pleasing recognition of valuable services was made at the meeting of the Referees' Association on Monday night, Mr. W. Beck, who has been the secietary of the Association for the past two seasons, being the recipient of a handsome case of pipes from the members. An association of referees requires an energetic man at the head of affairs, and in Mr. Beck the Wellington Association have been peculiarly fortunate, for he has done that body and himself much credit in the discharge of Ins duties. Now that the matches, as far as the Rugby Union is concerned, are concluded, a word of praise to the caretaker of the Athletic Park for the general excellence of the grounds provided for matches this season would not be out of place A few years back it seemed more than probable that the chances of the Athletic Park ever making a good football ground were very remote — the water used to he on it, and if a match was played on it after a, day or two's ram the field generally developed into a veritable quagmire. Mr. Murphy has altered all this, and the Ath'etic Park Company are to be congratulated on having secured the benefit of his experience, which has proved of great service to them since he has acted as their caretaker.